About Sree Narayana Guru

• Sree Narayana Guru was a catalyst and leader from Kerala who reformed the oppressive caste system that prevailed in society at the time whose philosophy always advocated social equality, education for all, and spiritual enlightenment.
• Born in the Ezhava caste, Narayan Guru had experienced discrimination from the upper caste of society.
• One of his famous sayings in Malayalam was ‘One caste, one religion, one god for all.’
• Narayana Guru consecrated the first temple of Lord Shiva in 1888 where an idol was ordinated by a non-brahmin in Aruvippuram village of Kerala sparking off the anti-caste revolution against the upper-caste Brahmin communities.
• Later, in 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) organization as the founder and president that continues to mark its strong presence to this day.
• The famous ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ protest movement against caste discrimination and untouchability abolished untouchability and inequality.
• Hence, this day is quite important in Kerala and is observed as a public holiday.
• The Sivagiri pilgrimage was established in 1924 to promote the virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.
• His philosophy and teachings are a way of life for the people of Kerala.
• He passed away on September 20, 1928.

Source: EPIC August 2021